Ethanol will power NASCAR races in Fontana this weekend

If ever there were a sport with dubious eco-credentials, a NASCAR stock-car race would seem to be it. It's about aerodynamics, high-speed crashes and thundering horsepower in 200 mph laps.

But when the green flag drops at the sport's premier Sprint Cup Series at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana this weekend, it will be emblazoned with a logo that says, "American ethanol" -- and every race car and truck will be fueled by a 15% ethanol blend known as Sunoco Green E15.

NASCAR promoters contend that changing to a renewable fuel demonstrates the sport's commitment to the environment while supporting farm country because most ethanol is made from corn.

More than 100 farmers, ethanol producers and seed and equipment makers will be using NASCAR this year to raise awareness of the benefits of E15, which include more horsepower for the race cars as they whip around the track, said Mike Lynch, managing director of green innovation for NASCAR.

"We debuted the use of this fuel at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, after a lot of work by engine builders to make sure it would work out well," Lynch said."Our high-compression engines run smoother and cleaner with E15 -- like a batter with a perfect stroke."

The renewable fuel is part of NASCAR's ongoing greener strategy, Lynch said. NASCAR already boasts one of the largest event-recycling programs in sports and one of the the world's largest solar-powered facilities at the Pocono Raceway in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

RELATED: EPA's ethanol decision sparks controversy

               Ethanol lobbyists storm Sacramento

               California ethanol producer files for bankruptcy

-- Louis Sahagun

Photo: Ethanol-powered race car. Credit: NASCAR

Comments

[Steve V]

Mike Selinger, your comments on mileage loss is baseless. If you experience any more then 2 or 3 percent mileage loss on E10 or more than 15 percent with E85, blame the oil companies. The blending of gasoline is a very complex issue and the oil companies are dumping a cheaper but dirtier gasoline on the market than most other countries. If you don’t believe me, purchase Honda Motor Co. SAE paper 2010-01-2117 or 2115.

Ethanol is clean burn and more efficient but if you educate yourself on the web, you won’t learn the truth. When will the ethanol get credit for the protein, half the value of corn still remains after the ethanol process. Just the golf courses in Florida use more water than the ethanol industry. Why don’t you look up some ethanol plant websites and look for their aerial photos, do you see any waste water ponds. Most new ethanol plants are a zero water discharge. Can you say that about a oil refinery.

The next time you stand next to a starting vehicle, think about the aromatics, the 50 plus Benzene type hydrocarbons your are being exposed to. Ethanol or Benzene, you choose.

[Sabrina]

Yeah, that makes about as much sense as the KKK having an affirmative action program.

[jack farms]

I would much rather see NASCAR use more of a domestic, clean-burning fuel instead of using more foregin oil. Tough to blame food prices on ethanol when only 11.6% of the total U.S. food dollar goes back to the farm according to the USDA. Ethanol is progressive thinking as it is lessening our countries dependence on foreign oil, better for the environment as it lessens emissions by 52% and creates green jobs.

[Mike Selinger]

They take the subsidies & bump their prices anyway. Now poorer folks here & worldwide have to compete with our cars for nourishment.

And since they've pushed this junk here on the East Coast, we've noticed a 25% drop in fuel mileage. Nice move.

[Efrain rojas]

Yeah, yeah, food costs... Has anyone noticed how fat americans are? The corn industry is subsidized anyway, thus food costs are artificially low. Fuel is a perfectly legitimate use for ethanol.

[Ramblin Coyote]

Let's completely ignore how costly ethanol actually is, and it's adverse effect on food costs.

More backwards thinking from land of the free and the brave.